When I was younger, I always had 6 months of living expenses in the bank, a cheap life style, and a willingness to work (and a lot of experience of) menial jobs

When I was younger, I always had 6 months of living expenses in the bank, a cheap life style, and a willingness to work (and a lot of experience of) menial jobs. That meant that going in to work every day was a choice, not an obligation. More than once, I quit a job and took a break. These days, with mortgage, kids etc, I still maintain the escape hatch.